Artillery Units: 1st Reg't. Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery
Artillery units were recruited from all over the state. Those represented in detail here are the ones recruited primarily from northwest Ohio counties. The roster listings here show only those members of the unit who wrote letters to their local newspapers.
This Regiment was mustered into the service as the 117th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in September 1862 at Camp Portsmouth, Ohio, its eight companies aggregating 796 men. In October 1862, the Regiment was ordered to Kentucky, where, for the succeeding seven months it was engaged in guard duty and expeditions against guerrillas. In May 1863, orders were issued by the War Department changing the organization into the First Regiment Heavy Artillery, Ohio Volunteers, and on August 12, 1863, it was so reorganized, with twelve full companies, aggregating 1,839 officers and men. During the process of reorganization, the Regiment constructed the extensive fortifications around Covington and Newport. During the fall and winter of 1863-1864, the Regiment, in battalion detachments, was engaged in guard duty at various points in Kentucky. On February 19, 1864, it started under orders through heavy snow and extreme cold, over the mountains to Knoxville, Tennessee, arriving there March 9. Until September the Regiment was engaged in guarding the railroads through Tennessee, and subsequently participated in Burbridge and Stoneman's raids against Saltville. During the winter of 1864-1865 it was constantly engaged in foraging and fighting guerrillas throughout East Tennessee and North Carolina. Forming a part of the First Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of the Cumberland, the Regiment was engaged in guarding mountain passes and garrisoning captured points in Virginia and North Carolina. After the surrender of Lee and Johnson the Regiment saw service in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. On July 25, 1865, it was mustered out of the service at Knoxville, Tennessee in accordance with orders from the War Department.
Battery L, 1st OVHA
This Battery was mustered into service July 30, 1863, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Mustered out July 25, 1865 at Knoxville, Tennessee.
Roster
Officers
Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Personnel
Newspaper Articles about the Unit/Anonymous Letters
"W.H.V." Letter: Norwalk Reflector: July 12, 1864
"W.F." Letter: Hancock Jeffersonian: April 14, 1865
